Betting Tips

Defending champions Adelaide Strikers have won three of their last four matches to play their way back into form.

After opening the tournament with back-to-back wins, Sydney Thunder have won just one in five since – and England duo Joe Root and Jos Buttler, the tournament’s top scorer so far, have now departed.

Chris Jordan and Anton Devcich are set to replace the English duo and are expected to go straight into the starting line-up.

Our Pick: Adelaide Strikers

BBL 2018-19 Sydney Thunder vs Adelaide Strikers 28th Match Prediction

ABOUT THE MATCH

After a break for the One Day International between the Australia vs India ODI, the Big Bash League is going to see Sydney Thunder take on the Adelaide Strikers. Sydney Thunder has slipped drastically after a very promising start to the season and now has to deal with the loss of Jos Buttler as well.

Adelaide Strikers have moved on to second place in the BBL league table after winning their match against the Melbourne Stars by a massive 41 runs. The teams are still pretty closely packed together and any one of the BBL sides could leapfrog few places by winning a couple of games.

There has been nothing much to pick between the Big Bash teams this season and that is exactly what the fans want to see.

SYT vs ADS, BBL 2018-19 Where to watch/Live streaming

Bat Flip Prediction

Both sides have mixed it up when winning the bat flip, but the Thunder have won the toss and batted first in their last two matches at the Spotless Stadium.

Sydney Thunder Team News & Playing 11

SYT Team News

Usman Khawaja’s ODI recall means Sydney Thunder remain without the left-handed batsman, while paceman Pat Cummins – despite not being in the ODI squad – is also unavailable after being rested by Cricket Australia. Jos Buttler and Joe Root have now departed for England duty, with Anton Devcich and Chris Jordan to replace them. Jay Lenton will replace Buttler as wicket-keeper meaning a further change is necessary too – which could mean Sam Rainbird making way after going wicketless in his last four games.

SYT Key Players

Sydney Thunder have announced they will be rushing Anton Devcich and Chris Jordan straight into the starting line-up, with both in line to play Adelaide Strikers as a result.

Devcich has impressed with the ball more than the bat in the Super Smash in New Zealand, claiming best figures of 4-27 for Northern Knights, having previously impressed with the bat in the Afghanistan Premier League and T10 League.

Jordan, meanwhile, played two games for Northern Knights and took two wickets, after claiming eight scalps during his T10 League stint. He also played for England as they beat Sri Lanka in October, claiming 2-29 with the ball.

Of those already in action for Sydney Thunder, Callum Ferguson hit back-to-back 40s against Adelaide Strikers and Perth Scorchers – top-scoring for the Thunder in the last game between these two.

With the ball, Daniel Sams has ten wickets for the tournament so far, including 2-24 last time they played Adelaide Strikers after three wickets in each of the first two games. Jonathan Cook took 3-27 last time out against Brisbane Heat, meanwhile – his best Big Bash figures after making his debut in the competition on Christmas Eve.

SYT Team Form

Sydney Thunder won their first two matches but, since failing to defend a Jos Buttler-powered 193/6 in a seven-wicket loss to Hobart Hurricanes in their third match, they have won just one further game.

The reverse fixture against Adelaide Strikers saw them finish 20 runs short of the Strikers’ 175/4 on New Year’s Eve, though Buttler’s half-century did earn a thrilling one-run win against Perth Scorchers next up – 142/6 proving just enough.

They failed to back it up, however – losing by eight wickets to Melbourne Stars after posting just 135/8 from their 20 overs. And, last time out, a rain-affected match against Brisbane Heat – the Sydney Thunder innings was curtailed on 34/2 from 5.3 overs, 15 short of the DLS mark after Brisbane had posted 186/8.

Sydney Thunder Predicted Playing 11

Adelaide Strikers Team News & Playing 11

ADS Team News

Ben Laughlin, Wes Agar and Harry Nielsen all came into the side last time out with Peter Siddle, Alex Carey and Billy Stanlake on international duty. Travis Head made his first start too, captaining the Strikers and scoring 43 runs in a 41-run victory. Cameron Valente was the other player to miss out, having failed to hold down a regular starting place so far, and Adelaide could stick with the winning line-up to face Sydney Thunder.

ADS Key Players

Colin Ingram scored 75 from 43 balls when the teams last met, including six sixes, and scored his second half-century of the tournament last time out as he top-scored with 57 from 41 balls.

Returning captain Travis Head posted 43 from 31 balls in his first game of the season, having come back from the Australian test squad and will hope to continue proving a point after being omitted from the national ODI team.

Jake Weatherald is one of five batsmen to have passed 200 runs so far in BBL 2018-19

season, meanwhile. He hit back-to-back 50s against Melbourne Renegades and Sydney Sixers and now has 218 runs from seven innings.

Rashid Khan took 1-18 from four overs in the game against Adelaide Strikers, meanwhile. The Afghani leg-spinner has taken 11 wickets in the tournament and boasts an incredible economy rate of just 4.85 runs per over.

Michael Neser has taken seven wickets so far, while Ben Laughlin returned to form with 3-19 from 3.2 overs against Melbourne Stars.

ADS Team Form

Defending champions Adelaide Strikers started with a win on the opening night before losing two matches in a row. They got back on track against Sydney Thunder, however, and have only lost once since. Against the Thunder, Colin Ingram scored 75 from 43 balls and Peter Siddle claimed 3-20 as they posted 175/4 and won by 20 runs. Jake Weatherald then hit 71 from 44 balls in a 32-run victory against Melbourne Renegades.

Another Weatherald half-century was not enough against Sydney Sixers, as the Strikers failed to defend 150/5 and lost by six wickets with ten balls to spare. But they bounced back last time out, as Ingram hit 57 from 41 balls and Ben Laughlin claimed 3-19 from 3.2 overs with the ball, scoring 178/5 against Melbourne Stars before bowling them out for 137 in the final over.

Adelaide Strikers Predicted Playing 11

Team Form in Last Five Matches (most recent first)

SYT : L L W L L

ADS : W L W W L

BBL 2018-19 Sydney Thunder vs Adelaide Strikers 28th Match Prediction

SYT vs ADS Head to Head

Adelaide Strikers have beaten Sydney Thunder six times in ten previous attempts, with three defeats and one no result. The most recent of those was at the Adelaide Oval on New Year’s Eve, when Colin Ingram scored 75 from 43 balls as the Strikers posted 175/4 in front of a crowd of 41,987. In reply, Peter Siddle took 3-20 from four overs and the Thunder finished on 155/6, 20 runs short.

It was Adelaide’s fourth straight win in this fixture, having also won both matches last season – including a 25-run win in Sydney and Ben Laughlin claiming 4-26 as they bowled the Thunder out for 110 in Adelaide, in a 53-run victory.

Sydney Thunder vs Adelaide Strikers Betting Odds

Adelaide Strikers are favourites to win this game, with Bet365 offering 1.72, Betfair 1.73 and Betway 1.70 on an Adelaide win. Sydney Thunder are 2.10 by contrast.

Colin Ingram was the Strikers star man last time out, and also when these teams last met. He is 5.50 to be their top batsman again. Only Jake Weatherald (3.75 with Bet365) and Travis Head (4.20 with Betfair) are shorter priced.

Rashid Khan was man of the match in both games against Sydney Thunder last year, meanwhile, and the Adelaide Strikers’ star spinner is 3.00 with Bet365 to be their top bowler.

Sydney Thunder vs Adelaide Strikers Prediction

Adelaide Strikers showed their strength in depth by beating Melbourne Stars last time out and, having retained some key players despite international call-ups to others, they can maintain their good form by beating Sydney Thunder.